The award recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship by an individual, school, community organization or civic group that makes an outstanding commitment to litter control, recycling or general environmental stewardship.
As local business owners of Lakeshore Towing Services, Inc., Eric and Teresa Guerrein played a key role in the 2023 pilot project by offering their leased property for the installation of the devices.
They also donated staff time and equipment to support the initiative. Their involvement has continued beyond the pilot phase, making Lakeshore Towing an integral partner in ongoing efforts.
In addition, Teresa Guerrein is widely recognized for her dedication to cleaning up litter along Erie’s bayfront and for founding the local group Keep Our Bayfront Beautiful.
With funding from the Ocean Conservancy, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful collaborated with numerous individuals, organizations and businesses who make their home in Lake Erie, to pilot devices made to capture debris that makes its way into the water.
The devices, known as litter control booms, are designed to limit the spread of trash and debris and corral floating litter so it can be collected and removed from the waterway.
The installation and maintenance of the booms has been an ongoing collaboration between Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Lakeshore Towing Services, Inc., Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority, Regional Science Consortium at Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC), Erie Water Works, City of Erie, Keep Erie County Beautiful, Erie County Department of Planning and Erie County Conservation District.
The partnership brings together the collective knowledge of a wide variety of stakeholders invested in the health and water quality of Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie.
“Eric and Teresa Guerrein exemplify what it means to take pride in our community and
environment. Their leadership and generosity through Lakeshore Towing have made a real
difference in protecting Presque Isle Bay. It’s local champions like them who inspire lasting change and remind us that environmental stewardship starts at home,” said Rep. Harkins.
The Regional Science Consortium at TREC, will monitor the sites and collect the trash that accumulates in and around the booms and evaluate data.
Data collected determines the types and sources of trash, the effectiveness of the device and will eventually help determine how to reduce the amount of trash entering the waterway.
“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful congratulates and commends Eric and Teresa Guerrein and Lake Shore Towing for being a valued partner helping to control litter entering Presque Isle and Lake Erie. Their continual efforts to install and maintain the litter control booms is integral to the program. This nomination is a testament to their hard work and the positive difference they continue to make in the community,” said Shannon Reiter, Executive Director of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “We encourage all public officials to recognize the good and necessary work and the special people who coordinate local programs that keep our communities clean and beautiful with a Community Pride Award.”
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is again partnering with Presque Isle State Park to pilot a program applying litter prevention strategies at beaches 6 and 8 at Presque Isle State Park to prevent litter from making its way into Lake Erie waters.
Strategies include:
-- Informational posters placed on dumpsters, encouraging their use;
-- Kiosks housing informational posters and free paper litter bags;
-- Picnic tables, stenciled with messages, encouraging proper disposal of trash; and
-- Volunteer Ambassadors to interact with visitors and educate them on the hazards
of litter and resources available to them.
The Community Pride Award is one way elected officials can recognize individuals and groups making a difference in their communities. Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, visit their YouTube Channel.
Keep PA Beautiful helps mobilize over 100,000 volunteers a year to pick up litter, clean up illegal dumping and beautify Pennsylvania.
(Photo: Anna Frantz, Deputy Executive Director, Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority; Jeanette Schnars, Executive Director, Regional Science Consortium at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center; Teresa and Eric Guerrein, Lakeshore Towing and Marine Services; Rep. Patrick Harkins; Don Benczkowski, Program Coordinator-Lake Erie Region, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful; Julie Slomski, Executive Director, Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority.)
Resource Link:
-- Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Deploys 3rd Litter Control Boom In Erie At Erie Water Works [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- KDKA: Legislation To Be Introduced Aimed At Banning Single-Use Plastic Bags In PA
-- Martins Ferry Times Leader: PA’s Austin Master Services Abandoned Frack Waste Plant Cleanup In Martins Ferry, OH Slated For Completion
[Posted: May 30, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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